Moppit, a patterdoodle — a patterdale terrier crossed with a poodle — spent 27 hours in darkness after chasing a rabbit into a tunnel in Iwerne Minster, near Blandford Forum, Dorset.

It is believed that she became trapped after she caused part of the tunnel, which supplies the village with water, to collapse while trying to dig her way out.

Dorset fire brigade summoned the urban search and rescue team from the neighbouring Devon brigade who, led by a local history buff familiar with the tunnels, dug two deep holes and sent down a camera, microphones and, finally, a slim firefighter to locate the dog. The rescue took nine hours.